Traction-engine.



I. A. THOMPSON.

' TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5. 1915. 1,176,182. Patented Mar.21,1916.

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J. A. THOMPSON.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE Is, I9I5.

l 1 76, 1 82 Patented Mar. 2 1, 1916.

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J. A. THOMPSON.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5. I9I5.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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` JOHN A. THOMPSON, or AvERY, I owa.

` TnAc'rIoN-ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Avery, in the county of Monroe and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Traction-Engine, of which the following is a specification The object of my invention is to provide a traction engine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

A further Objectis to provide a traction engine particularly adapted for hauling cars in mines and the like, so constructed and arranged for hauling maximum grades with a minimum of engine weight.

A further object is to provide such an -engine adapted to wind a cable from a drum or drums to propel the engine along a track. p

A further object is to provide in an engine of the type mentioned, guide devices for guiding the taking up of the cable and the replacement of the cable in the proper place along the track.

Still a further object is to provide an engine of this type having means for properly guiding and laying a cable in connection with guide devices on the right away, whereby the cable may be `properly placed in position after it has traveled over the drums on the engine.

In view of these and other objects, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more .fully set forth pointed out in my claims and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fivure l shows a side elevation of a traction engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view of the same.

' Fig. shows a detail plan view of a portion of the gearing device of the engine. Fig. -1 shows a detail end view of one of the pairs of guide pulleys. Fig. 5 shows a detail View partly in section of the means for securing one end of the cable. Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a portion of the track illustrating the manner in which the cable is laid at a junction point. Fig. 7 shows a detailsectional view of the track and guido rail taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, portions of one pair of pulleys being shown in end elevation, illustrati-ng the relation ofthe pulleysto the rails of the track 'and Vv20, on which is a pawl 21.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented :M2112 21, 1916.

Application filed June 15, 1915.

Serial No. 34,317.

- the guide rail, and Fig. 8 shows side ele" if illustrated one form of my invention, andv `have employed the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the ties of a track on which are placed the rails l1.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a junction point between two tracks. It is my purpose to operate my engine in connection with and partially by meansiof a cable 12 laid along the center of the track over. which. the engine is to travel. .The cable 12 vat one, or Vif desired, at both ends may be connected with a powerful coil spring 13, which in turn is connected with a flexible device or cable 14 wound on a drum 15, rotatable on 4an anchored support 16. On the drum 15 is a ratchet 17, adjacent to which on the support 16, is a 'pawl 18. Pivotally mounted on the drum shaft 19 is a lever The pawls 18 and 21 are adaDted to coact with-the ratchet 17. By means of the mechanism just described, the tensicn on the cable 12 may be varied as may be desired, and it is also possible to allow some give to the cable, which is desirable in making curves.

At the junction points, the cable 12 is held in the middle of the track between the rails by means of a guide rail 22, which is preferably somewhat higher than the rails 11 for a purpose which will be hereafter described. The rail 11, which is crossed by the cable 12, is provided with a notch 23 to admit the cable 12.

My improved engine comprises a truck which may be built with the elliptical frame 24 having the parallel longitudinal frame members 25, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

Mounted on the frame 24 in suitable bearings 26 are spaced axles 27, on which are fixed supporting wheels 28. Suitably mounted on the truck is an engine 29 having the shaft 30. as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Below the engine shaft 30 is a transverseshaft 31 extending across the machine and mounted in suitable bearings.

On the engine shaft 30 is loosely mounted a sleeve 32, formed on which is a pinion 33 and a cone clutch member 34. The pinion 33 is in mesh with a pinion 35 on the shaftBL lSppaced from thesleeve 32 on .the'shaftfSO is loosely mounted a sleeve 36, formed V'on which is a sprocket gear 37 and a cone clutch Y 68 arranged at one side of the rim of each member 38 opposite the clutch member 34. On the shaft 31 is a sprocket gear 38a in line with the sprocket gear 37. A chain 39 travels on the sprockets 37 and 38a. Slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 30 between the clutch members 34 and 38 is a sleeve 40, formed on which are cone clutch members 41 and 42 adapted to engage and coact respectively with the clutch members 34 and 38 in different positions of the sliding movement of the sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 isv designedto be controlled in any suitable way.

Mounted in suitable bearings 43 on the frame members 25, on opposite sides of the engine, are transverse shafts 44 on which are mounted sheave drums 45 and 46. The cable 12 is wound over the drums 45 and 46.

On the shaft 31 are sprocket gears 47 and 48 in line with sprocket gears 49 and 50 respectively on the shafts 44. A chain 51 travels on the sprockets 47 and 49 and Va chain 52 travels on the sprockets 48 and 50.

Suitable Vbrakes are provided for the drums 45 and 46, which brakes are Vconstructed as follows; the brakes are similar for each drum, and I will, therefore, describe but one. A resilient member 53 is pivoted to a suitable support 54 and extends upwardly and over the drum. A pluralityof segmental blocks 55 of suitable material are secured to the under surface of the resilient member 53. 'l'heblocks 55 are adapted to lit into the grooves of the sheave drums'and to engage the wall thereof, and

' also to engage the cable 12. The upper ends of the resilient members 53 are pivoted at points between the ends of the levers.- The upper end of the lever 56 adjacent to theV drum 45 is pivoted to a supporting frame member 57. Pivoted to the lowerv end of the lever 56 is a link 58. The link 58 is also pivoted to a lever 59, suitably pivoted on a .frame member 60. The link58 is pivoted to the lever 59 below the pivotal point of .saidleven A lever 61, adjacent to the drum 46'is pivoted at its upper end to a supporting frame member 62, and its lower end to a link 63. The link 63 is pivoted to the Alever 59 above'the pivotal point of said lever.V It will readily be seen that the arrangement of theparts is such that by moving the lever 59 in ,one direction, both the brakede'vices will be released, and by moving' it in another position boththe brake devices will be tightened. Y 4

' At each end of' the frame is a guide device arranged to hold the cable 12 below and considerably'spaced from the nearest axle 27. The guide y' devices comprise brackets 64 having oppositeportions 65 extending downwardly and toward each other and connected at their lower ends by a portion 66. 'Botatably mounted on the portion 65 are wheels 67 having peripheral flanges wheel, as illustrated in F ig. 4. It will be seen that the flanges are arranged at the sides vof the wheels farthest from the brackets on which the wheels are mounted, and that the wheels are inclined, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so that the lower edges of the wheels almost touch each other, and so that the cable 12 may be placed in the space between the rims and flanges ofthe wheels at the lower edges thereon, as illustrated in said F ig.' 4. The lower edges of the flanges of the wheels 67 are arranged on the frame so that they are just above the upper level lof the rails 11, and. so that they will just clear the rails 11 in passing from one track to anotherat .a junction point. Y

In the practlcal useof my improved traction engine .the cable l2 is installed in posif tion along the track on which it is desiredto operate the engine, and 1s. wound over the drums 45 and 46 and .centered beneath the guide wheels 67, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and .2. The tension on thecable may be regulated as desired bv means Vof theV pawl and Yratchet device at the end of the cable.

The

cableis threaded on theoutside of the curve along the guide rails 22 at junction points through the slots 23 at said junction points. The engine is propelled forwardly by starting the engine 29 with the brakesre- Y leased. By throwing the clutch member 41L into engagement with the clut'chmember 34,

Vrotation in one direction will be imparted to the shaft 31, and therethrough to the the shaft30 .to throwthe clutch member 42 into engagement with the clutch member 38.

One of the important YVfeatures of my device is the` means for.V handling the-cable. It'will'be` noted that the guide devices are spacedV considerably away from the' axles longitudinally of the machine/So that on turning curves the'cable12willbe taken Y up clearof the guide rail 22 and laid down spaced from said guide rail on the outside bof the curve, so that the Vcable willV always be left in propervposition after my engine has passed the guide rail. -The bracketde- -vices may be used for retarding thetravel of the engine on down grades.- l.

I have built and used a full sized vworking engine, and have foundl that-with a comparatively light weight engine AVof this w tvneit is possible tol pull avery heavyload.

With engines, ordinarily usedV in mines,jon Vaccount of the steep grades found Vin the mine tunnels, it isnecessary to havena very heavy engmev 1n order to pull the coal jcars.

This entails a large expense in manufac-i turing?4 'upkeep` andrffliel.4 l/Vith awdevice Pof thiskindtraveling with the cable, theen- Vbe readily taken `,up and placed, and changed from one track to another whenv it is desired. It will be` understood that many changes Imay-be made inthe arrangement and construction of ftheparts of mvimproved traction engine without departing from its essential features and purposes, and it is my intent to cover by this application any such changes which may be included within the scope of my claims.

I claim as my invention.

l. In a deviceof the class described, a frame, supporting wheels thereon, a pair of sheave drums mounted on said frame, a source of power mounted on` the frame, means forI operatively connecting the source of power with said drums, whereby rotary motion may hesimultaneouslyimparted to the drums in the same direction.` and means controlled from a single lever for friction- .ally retarding the motion of the drums, said means comprising a` support adjacent to each drum, a flexible band brake member pivoted i to the respective l supports and adapted to extend circumferentiallypart wav around a portion of the drum, a plurality of segmental blocks on the under surface of each flexible member, a lever pivotallv supported between its ends, links eX- tending toward the respective drums and pivoted to said lever on opposite sides of the pivotal point thereof, a pivoted lever adjacent to one flexible device and to one of said links. and a pivot lever pivoted to the other of said flexible devices and to the other of said links.

2. In a device of ,the class described, a frame, axles on said frame, wheels on said axles, a source of power mounted on said frame, a sheave drum mounted on said frame. and means for imparting motion to said drum in either direction at the option of the operator. guide devices adapted to receive and feed the cable located at the front and rear of the machine below and considerably spaced from the axles. whereby the cable will be fed on the outside of the curve of the center of travel of the machine upcn making turns, said guide devices comprising at each end of the machine a bracket having spaced members inclined downwardlv and toward each other, sheaves pivoted to the said members having their lower portions adjacent to each other, said sheaves having their adjacent flanges removed so that a cable may travel between the peripheries and flanges of the sheaves at their lower adjacent portions.

3. In-a device of the class described, a

frame.;V axles onsaid frame, `wheels on.- said axles, a source1of power mounted on said frame, a sheave, drum mounted. on said frame, and means for imparting motion to bv the cable will be fed on the outside of the curve of the center of travel of the machine upon making. turns, said means comprising at each end of the machine a pair of sheaves rotatably mounted and iii-- clined from their upper portions down f wardly and toward each other and having on their peripheries on the sides thereof .adjacent to the sheaves an annular outwardly projecting flange whereby a cable may be received and fed between the peripheries and flanges of the sheaves at their lower portions.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted on wheels, sheave drums mounted on said frame, means for imparting motionV to said drums simultaneously `in the. same direction with a cable wound on said drum, a track on which said wheels are adapted to travel, a curved railroad track, and a guide rail located hetween the rails of the track at the curve therein, said guide rail being higher than the rails of the track, said guide devices be-l ing arranged forwardly and rearwardly of the machine respectively from the axles and adapted to feed or take up said cable from the side of said guide rail on the outside of the curve.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted on wheels, drums mounted on said frame for rotation, means for imparting motion to said drums, a track on which said wheels are adapted to travel, a curved switch track leading from the first track, a guide rail higher than the switch track, rails arrangedcbetween the rails of the switch track at the curved portions thereof,fone rail of the main track between the rails of the switch track having a slot to receive a cable, a cable extended along a portion of the rst track and along the switch track adjacent to said guide rail on the outside of the curve and received in said slot, and guide devices on said frame spaced rearwardly and forwardly respectively from the wheels thereof and adapted to take up and feed said cable from the side of said guide rail.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted on wheels, drums mounted on said frame for rotation, means for imparting motion to said drums, a track on which' said wheels are adapted to travel, a curved nswitch track leading from the first track, a guide rail higher tween the rails of the switch track at the curved portions thereof, one rail of the main track between the rails of the switch track havlng a slot to receive a cable, a cable extended along a portion of the first track and along the switch track adjacent to said guide rail on the outside of the curve and received in said slot, guide devices on said frame spaced rearwardly and forwardly respectively from the wheels thereofI and adapted to take up and feed said cable from the sidevof said guide rail, and resilient adjustable means for securing'one end of said cable. Y

-7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted on wheels, drums mounted on said frame, means for imparting motion t0 said drums in either direction at variable speeds, with a track on which saidwheels are adapted to travel, a switch track leaving said first track, a'cable adapted lto lie along one of the tracks or along the switch track and part of the main track, said cable being wound on said drums, and guide, feed and take-up devices located on said frame rearwardly and forwardly respectively from the wheels there- Copies of this patent may be obtained for lof, 'and'adaptedto'pickup saidcable from 8. 1n a device of the class described, theV -combination of a frame mounted on wheels,

a source of power thereon,rdrums on said frame, a curved track on which said 'wheels travel, a. cable laid along said track and wound on said drums, and coacting guide,

feed and take-up devieeson said frame and track whereby said cable is takenv up and laid down in a certain positionwith relation to the rails of Vthe track. i f

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cable operated traction engine, with a track and a switch track leading therefrom, a cable, said engine,

tracks and cable being so arranged Vthat the engine maybe operated on one track and the cable so fed and taken up as to permit loaded cars to travel across the'cable on the other track.V n

Des Moines, Iowa, April 9., 1915.

` JOHN A. THOMPSON. Witnesses: Y A. SHERMAN,

J. MAHER.

ve cents each, by addressing the @Commissioner o! Patents, Washington, D.` C. A 

